Heavy reading: 9-year-old leads 700-pound book collection campaign to replace books lost in the Maui wildfires

Nine-year-old Maddie Ellner felt heartbroken to read about last year’s Maui wildfires, the destruction of the Lahaina Library and, especially, keiki who lost everything.

Then the Orange County resident decided to take action: launch a campaign to collect used books from family and friends to replace books lost on Maui in the wildfires, or be sold to buy new books.

Maddie started small. She distributed a few fliers in her neighborhood, then to her classmates and librarians at her school, St. Margarets in San Juan Capistrano. Quickly, the books rolled in… at first a couple hundred, then a couple hundred more.

Word spread quickly, and her home was soon filled with more than 1,600 books weighing more than 700 pounds. At that point, members of Maddie’s family slowed things down as they tried to sort out the logistics of getting all those books to Maui, island libraries and the Maui Friends of Library.

After planning and discussions with United Airlines, 10 brightly colored duffel bags can be brought to Maui as part of her family’s luggage next week. If all goes as planned, the books will be delivered 10 a.m. Aug. 14 to the Kīhei branch of Maui Friends of the Library at 95 East Lipoa St. The event is open to the public, and those attending are asked to bring books to share.

The family extended its thanks for assistance from Dennis Costa, general manager of the Maui Hills Resort.

Maddie is hoping that the children’s books will be given to kids who lost their own books in the fires. She also hopes that others will read about her book collection project and make their own contributions. Maddie plans to continue her book donation mission with her annual visits to Maui with family members.

“Rebuilding is a long-term effort that goes on and on and on after the headlines and newscasts fade away,” an announcement said.